Display holder



Dec. 29, 1964 R. R. SNEDIKER DISPLAY HOLDER Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR.

ROBERT R. SNEDIKER ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,162,?65 DISPLAY HOLDER Robert R. Snediker, Winnetka, llL, assignor to Chicago Show Frinting Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of iliinois Fiied .ian. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,092 Claims. (Cl. til--19) This invention relates to a display holder adapted to retain displays or supporting means therefor whereby they can be quickly and easily replaced. In a specific application to which this invention is particularly directed, the holders are designed for use with price channels of the type used in supermarkets and other establishments for displaying prices.

Various objects used for display purposes, particularly in connection with advertising, pricing and the like, are desirably located whereby they can be quickly removed and easily interchanged. In the case of small displays, a great deal of time can be consumed in handling the displays it the means supporting do not provide for quick removal and easy insertion of other material.

Means employed for displaying prices in retail establishments in many cases comprise elongated channels having transparent faces. Numbered cards are adapted to be inserted within the channels in order to provide a display of the price for items located adjacent thereto. The price channels must be constantly removed as prices change and as goods in an establishment are relocated. It is accordingly, desirable to provide a holder for the channels which perm-its quick insertion and removal of the channels.

It is one object of this invention to provide a ,display holding means which is adapted for quick and easy removal of displays and other objects to be associated therewith.

It is a more particular object of this invention to pro vide a display holding means adapted for use in conjunction with price channels whereby the channels can be efliciently removed and replaced in order to facilitate altering of the prices displayed therein.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stand suitable for supporting goods along with the display holder of this invention holding a price display channel;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of disassembled portions of the display holder;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the stand and associated display holder with a price channel in the disengaged position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to FIGURE 3 with the price channel shown in the engaged position; and 1 FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the stand and associated display holder.

The accompanying drawings and the following description relate to a display holder designed for supporting price channels. It will be appreciated, however, that the concepts of this invention can be adapted for use in many related applications.

The display holder of this invention essentially includes first and second brackets, each having outwardly extending engaging means formed in their ends. In addition, each of the brackets is provided with inwardly extending flanges and means are provided for interconnecting the brackets whereby the faces thereof are adapted to slide with respect to each other. Means are associated with the flanges to effect relative displacement of the brackets. As the displacing means moves the brackets in one direc- 3,162,965 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 tion relative to each other, the engaging means of the holder are moved to release an object held thereby or to a position whereby they can receive an object. When the engaging means are moved in the opposite direction, the object held is adapted to be securely grasped thereby.

In a preferred form of this invention, the engaging means of the holder comprise tabs which extend upwardly and outwardly on one bracket and downwardly and outwardly on the other bracket. The one bracket is adapted to be interfitted between a pair of engaging means on the other bracket whereby the brackets can be retained flush with respect to each other. A thumb screw preferably passes through each of the bracket flanges, and rotation thereof will thus result in displacement of the flanges and associated brackets in either direction.

The accompanying drawings will provide a more specific description of the preferred form of display holder. FIGURE 1 illustrates a stand 10 made up of Wire members 12. The stand is designed for the locating of goods which are to be displayed. It will be understood that stands of any design could be employed in combination with the novel display holder, and it will also be apparent that the display holder could be associated with counters or any other means commonly used in'combination with a display holder.

The holder illustrated comprises a first bracket 14 having an inwardly extending flange 16. formed therein. An outwardly extending engaging member 18 is formed in the opposite end of the bracket 14. The flange 16 terminates in an overturned end 20 whereby the particular display illustrated can be secured on a cross member 12. It will be apparent that any suitable means for locating the display holder could be substituted for the design shown.

The holder of this invention also includes a second bracket 22 provided with inwardly extending flange 24. A pair of outwardly and upwardly extending engaging members 26 are also formed in the bracket 22. In the embodiment shown, the members 26 are spaced apart a distance at least equal to the width of the bracket 14. With this arrangement, the brackets 14 and 22 can be located flush with each other.

A hole 28 is formed in the bracket 14 for insertion of a rivet 30. The slot 32 formed in the bracket 22 is also adapted to receive the rivet 30 whereby the brackets can be interconnected as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The rivet 30 retains the brackets in face-to-face relationship. However, relative displacement in a sliding manner is, nevertheless, permitted.

A hole 34 is also provided in the flange 16 of the bracket-14. A nut 36 is secured to the flange 24 of the bracket 22 and thumb screw 38 is adapted to pass through the hole 34 and the nut 36. 1

The display holder is adapted to be employed in conjunction with a price channel 40. The price channel is provided with lip portions 42 adapted to fit over the engaging members 18 and '26.

In order to mount the price channel on the display holder, the thumb screw 38 is operated to move the flange portions of the respective brackets apart whereby the engaging portions 18 and 26 are brought closer together. The lip portions 42 of the channel 40 are then adapted to be placed over the engaging members. Rotation of the thumb screw 38 in the opposite direction will result in displacement of the flanges 24 and 16 closer to each other and, accordingly, the engaging portions of the brackets will securely retain the price channel as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The price channel illustrated is formed of a resilient material whereby the lip portions 42 are drawn flush against the engaging members 18 and 26. It will be apparent, however, that rigid price channels can also be effectively supported on the display holder.

The described arrangement greatly facilitates mounting, removing and interchanging of price channels. The

Withthis arrangement," rotation of the screw will result in automatic relative displacement'of' the supporting brack- If the thumbscrew is vertically movable with re- 7 spect to the bracket 14, the bracket-will be lowered under ets the influence of gravity whenthe screw is 'rotated to providefor removal of 'a-price channel. It is also contemplated to design the brackets whereby the screw is 'threadablyreceived' in each bracket. 7

In'considering the particular holder illustrated,it will 'be' apparent that various parts couldbe reversed without eliminatingthe critical'functionsof the holder. Thus,

the brackets 22 and- 14 couldbe interchanged and the nut 36placed on the bracket 14. Where desired, the

thumbiscrew 38 could be adapted for operation from beneath the holder, and it will also be apparent that other means couldfbe employed to provide for relative disa placement between the brackets. Variousother designs for the engaging means on the brackets couldbe employed ,dependingon the'type of object to be retained thereby." Engaging means could bejprovide'd on one'side only of the bracket 22, or a plurality or engaging means couldbeprovided on both brackets.v It is also contemplated that a plurality of brackets couldrbe placed in staggered relationship with respect to each other in order. to provide additional support, in special cases.

It Will be understood that modifications can be made in the above described display holder which provide the characteristics of thisinvention without departing from the spirit thereof, particularly as defined in the following claims. i a i i Iclaim:

1. A display holding device adapted to removably carry a-display -means.comprising first and second brackets, outwardly. extending engaging means. formed in one end of said first bracket, an inwardly extending flange formed a other.

2. A holding device according to claim 1 wherein said last-mentioned'means comprises a thumb screw,rnut means secured to one of said flanges, said thumb screw being threadably receivedinisaid'nut means wherebyfrotation of said screw results in relative displacement of said brackets. t

3. A display device adapted to support a price chan- 7 4i, a V

nel of the type comprising a pair of opposed return portions defining a channel therebetween, saiddevices comprising first and second brackets, outwardly extending engaging means formed in one endof said first bracket, an inwardly extending flange formed in the other end of said bracket, a pair of outwardly extending engaging means formed in one end of said second'bracket, said 'pair being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the Width'of said first bracket, an inwardly extending flange formed in the other end of said second bracket, a slot formed in said second bracket, means movably located Within said slot securing said brackets together, athurnb.

screw extending through said flanges andfnut means secured to tone of said flanges, said thumb screw being threadably received in said nut means whereby rotation 10f said screw results in, relative displacement of said 'brackets, and whereby the return portions of a price channel are adapted to be removably disposed on said engaging means.

4. A display device adapted to supporta price channel of the type'comprising a pair of opposed return 'portions defining a channel therebetween', said device comprising li'st and second brackets each including a" substantially fiat body portion, outwardly extending engaging means formed in one end of said first bracket and an inwardly extending flange formed "in the other end of said first bracket, a pair of outwardly extending engaging meansformed in one end of said secondbracket, said pair being spaced-apart a distance at least equal to the width of said first bracket, and an inwardly extendingfiange 'formed in the other end of said second bracket, a slot Within said slot securing said brackets together whereby the bodyv portions of said brackets are incontact with formed in said second bracke't,=-means movably located each other, a screw means extending through said flanges and nutrmeans secured to one of said'flanges, said'screw being threadably received in said nut means wherebyrotation of said screw 'results in relative displacement of said brackets, the engaging means of said first bracket .being received in one return portion of a price channel 'andeach of the pair of engaging means of the second bracket being receivedgin the other return portion of said price channel whereby displacement or" said brackets will result in removablysecuring said channel on said brackets. 1 5.-A'devicein accordance With'claim -4 wherein said means movably iocated'in said slot comprises a rivet permanently holding the brackets --in 'face-to-fa'ce relationship whilep'ermitting're'lative sliding movement between said brackets.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gordon Jan.'2,'1894 Devins May 7, 1929 Berry July 1 3, 1937 V Kopp'a; Feb. 6, 1945 Pfankuch Dec. 21, 1954 Howard Mar. 25, 1958 Hop p Jan, 9, 1962 V 

1. A DISPLAY HOLDING DEVICE ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY CARRY A DISPLAY MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS, OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ENGAGING MEANS FORMED IN ONE END OF SAID FIRST BRACKET, AN INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE FORMED IN THE OTHER END OF SAID BRACKET, A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ENGAGING MEANS FORMED IN ONE END OF SAID SECOND BRACKET, SAID PAIR BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID FIRST BRACKET, AN INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE FORMED IN THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND BRACKET, A SLOT FORMED IN AID SECOND BRACKET, MEANS MOVABLY LOCATED WITHIN SAID SLOT SECURING SAID BRACKETS TOGETHER, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FLANGES FOR MOVING SAID BRACKETS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER. 